This pretty cotton crochet mandala alternates three colors (plus white) for a terrific palette that exudes beauty. The yarn is perfectly soft and if this weren’t going to be used in the Mandalas for Marinke project, it would make an amazing round crochet washcloth!
This contribution comes from Natasha who writes,
“I am a newbie to crochet and I also knit and cross-stitch. I live in London, in the UK, where I take too many photos and stalk cats.”
Her photos can be enjoyed on Instagram @tashasadventures, where she adds that she is a, “Mother of cats, creator of things, crafter of randomness”.
She shared a beautiful letter with her contribution, noting how being part of this project has helped her. She writes,
“I hadn’t heard of Wink’s work until her passing, and it seems such a shame that I had to find out about it this way as her work is amazing. I had to get involved in this project, as I’m very familiar with the effects of depression, being bipolar, and to lose someone to suicide is heartbreaking.”
“Interestingly, I came to crochet through my own struggles with mental health. I can already knit and had been desperate to learn to crochet, but for some reason couldn’t pick it up. At the beginning of this year, I came to live in a therapeutic community, and my first task was to look at crochet courses. I found a lovely class and a teacher at my LYS – Knit with Attitude in Stoke Newington, North London. Since then, I’ve been hooked!”
“I have been struggling with my mental health recently, but having the #mandalasformarinke project to do has helped me stay focused and given me something to look forward to doing. There’s something quite soothing about the repetition of creating a mandala and how rewarding it can be to see it come together. This was my first attempt, too, and my confidence has been boosted through completing the mandala and the positive comments that I’ve received about it.”
“As someone who has struggled with mental health problems my whole life, and who has received so many different medications and therapies, I can say that art / craft has been one of the most beneficial. It’s a shame it’s something that is not widely considered a treatment option for those with mental health problems.”
She adds these messages:
“To those who struggle, I would say that you are not alone. Please reach out to someone you trust to help you. You are strong, and you will overcome. It may seem bleak now, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“To Wink’s family, I can’t imagine what you must be going through. I know there’s not much I can say, but do know that Wink’s life has touched and inspired so many and that her memory and legacy will live on through her work. My thoughts are with you.”
I am so happy to have Natasha’s contribution to the project, and so glad the being part of it was able to help her in its own way as well. Like her, I believe that art and crafting should be considered go-to treatment options for people with mental health issues, and I hope that Mandalas for Marinke is providing inspiration and an outlet to keep making that happen!